The Golden City Blackened

Chapter 3: To Orlais

Tav

Maker, why did everything have to be so far? We've been walking for ages now. My feet are aching from these metal boots, but of course I am just a complainer. Pfft, as if! Arathas wears those thin strips across her feet and Leliana has those ornate bard dancing shoes. Maybe, if they tried to trek around in something that weighs as much as a chunk of metal tied to their feet, they'd understand. Oh wait, it is metal. On the bright side, Arathas has totally been exiled from the walking circle. Hah. The look on her face when she realized she had gotten Leliana in the process was priceless! "Leliana, please!" She pleaded, hah. A lovely thought to keep my mind off my damaged feet... Only if I was taller. I could take less steps, I swear, two of Leliana's steps is equivalent to four of mine. Dont mind the fully equipped and heavily armored dwarf.

"We should settle for the night so we can reach the capital early." Leliana stated promptly and stopped. She looked around briefly before beginning to unpack her supplies, making camp. Obviously, she ensured that we would follow through. Thanks for consulting with us and asking. Ah, who I am kidding. This is the Leliana, Sister Nightingale and bard. Titles are pretty and all, but she is a sight.

I threw my satchel on the ground and slumped immediately on it, beginning the work of taking off my boots but being careful of the fact that they were absolutely sore. Arathas took her spot beside me more graciously and laid out her bedroll, glancing up at Leliana warily. Oh, Arathas.

"We will go find something to make a fire." I stated, getting up and motioning to Ara. She graciously took my offer and sat up as well. Leliana simply nodded and returned to her task of looking calmly through her satchel.

We took off in no particular direction, faster than normal and in a hurry to get out of range of the sister's sensitive ears. Once we passed a clearing into the shallow woods, Arathas turned to me. "What are we going to do?" She rasped, reaching up to toy with the shaven side of her head as she nervously took a few steps away from me. Which, I took the advantage of turning to my right to scout out for some decent wood.

"What do you mean?" I called out casually as I prepped to swing my axe into a rather thick trunk of wood. The axe slid through the pliant wood easily, and I leaned down to heave the chunk.

Arathas seemed to become more flabbergasted at my nonchalance. When I turned around, she stalked right up to me incredulously. "We are literally traveling with someone who is wanted dead by more people than slavers, which brings more attention to us. Remember, we are also wanted, but by Templars. If they catch wind of this, we will be arrested and, if not, the people who pursue Leliana would kill us." She ranted, motioning her hand in the direction where Leliana is camped.

Stepping beside her, "Great, we can have a wanted club. Though seriously, it's Leliana. She helped the Hero of Ferelden end the Blight. This has to be doing the right thing." I said, turning around. "Besides, she is super lovely and smells like Andraste's Grace," I added softly, then continued to walk towards the edge of the treeline.

Arathas didnt come back until much later, she seemed much calmer, thankfully. Probably her being all Dalish and elfy, the woods probably have a familiarity that brings her comfort. Meh, how sap. What could be better than ale? I took a generous sip and nodded to her as she laid on her bedroll. She looked inquisitive for a moment and looked over at Leliana's sleeping form.

"Dont worry, I took first watch." I whispered, raising my canteen of ale. Whoo.

Soon enough, she was asleep as well. It was quiet. The only thing filling the silence was the rustling of trees from the wind and the crickets that seemed to be scattered across various places, but still managed to be in sync. My eyes wandered to the campfire. The log I got managed to keep it burning for a long time. Not enough as it seems. I leaned over to grab another piece that was strewn near me, when I looked up to place it the fire, Leliana was sat up and staring intently at it, fully illuminated in the light. She seemed more human, with bags under eyes and worry lines across her forehead.

"You dont have to get up, my watch is not over yet." I said, pointing the sky to indicate the time.

She looked at me as intently as the fire, which seemed to increase when I brought the ale to my lips to take a drink. "What?" I retorted, starting to feel defensive because her staring didn't lighten up. With that, her eyes softened and she got up, making her way towards me. She sat neatly next to me and rested her back on the log that I was also resting on. "May I have a drink?" She questioned, slightly embarrassed, partly due to the fact that she was half awake.

"Of course. Hell, you look like you need it." I replied quickly, already regretting my statement and snapping my mouth shut as I handed her the ale. She took a drink. We sat there for hours in silence.

She drank the whole thing.